I’VE got to admit that Lucas is answering his critics, myself included, in the best possible fashion.

The Brazilian midfielder had a good game against Aston Villa on Monday night.

Lucas has still got a lot to prove but credit where credit is due. He’s certainly playing a lot better under Roy Hodgson than he did under Rafa Benitez.

Lucas has developed as a player. His use of the ball has improved and he’s looking stronger physically. He’s also displaying much more confidence than we’ve seen from him before.

But saying that, whether he’s good enough to start in our best team when everyone is available is debatable.

Steven Gerrard could return at St James’ Park on Saturday and if he’s fully fit then he has to come straight back into the side.

The best place for Gerrard is in the centre and I still believe the captain alongside Raul Meireles is our best midfield partnership.

That would be harsh on Lucas as he certainly doesn’t warrant being dropped. It’s a hard one for the manager but you have to go with your strongest side in an attacking sense to really go looking for a win.

David Ngog had one of his best games for the club against Villa and I would keep him up front alongside Fernando Torres.

Without Torres, Gerrard or Jamie Carragher, I was worried before Monday’s game. They are our three best outfield players and to win 3-0 without them was a great effort.

Thankfully, in their absence others stepped up to the mark. We didn’t play fantastically well and it was a good time to play a depleted Villa side but we did a professional job.

Lucas and Meireles bossed the midfield from start to finish and it was good to see Ngog and Ryan Babel on the scoresheet. Of course neither of them are going to keep a top player like Torres out of the team but you need to keep him on his toes.

Hodgson has said to Babel ‘you are going to be competing for a centre forward’s spot’ and that looks like the right way to get the best out of him as he looks lost on the wing.

Babel did okay. He has to be careful about his runs because too often he strays offside but it was good to see a centre forward playing off the shoulder of a centre-back.

The reception Gerard Houllier received was very generous.

Liverpool fans never forget what someone has done for the club and the treble in 2001 was memorable.

However, it’s also difficult to forget the fact he signed players like El Hadji Diouf, Bruno Cheyrou and Djibril Cisse.

If I was Houllier I’d be worried because Villa were very poor.

I was glad Ashley Young was missing due to suspension because he’s someone I rate very highly.

I would love to see Young in a Liverpool shirt as a top left winger would really give the team a good balance.

Things are looking rosier at Anfield and we’ve got Torres and Gerrard to come back.

But if we’re going to achieve anything this season we need to turn our away form around. I just hope we’re positive at Newcastle and take the game to them like we did at Spurs.